It could truly be called a stinging defeat in this instance at least.

The Thompson Falls Lady Hawks surged to a 25-8, 25-21, 25-23 win over the visiting Plains Trotters Thursday. In other Western B net action last week, the Lady Hawks fell 27-25, 25-20, 25-23 to the Copperheads in Anaconda and Plains played an unofficial, unscored match in Mission, with both of those matches being played Saturday.

Although losses naturally hurt a little, the Trotters actually felt the sting this time as two players (Claire Lakko and Jaycee Carr) were stung by bees during the course of the match. Plains coach Kim Lakko also reported that two of her C team players and one of her JV Trotters were also on the receiving end of bee stings during the matches Thursday.

Although unaware of Plains’ plight with the stinging insects that night, Thompson Falls coach Sandra Kazmierczak did say that Lady Hawk Gabi Hannum was stung during a practice session at TFHS last week, and expressed her sympathy towards the Trotters.

“I didn’t know they had players getting stung,” Kazmierczak said. "We had had a little trouble last week but didn’t think much about it, I’m sorry that a few girls were hurt.”

With or without the bees, the match did go on and the Lady Hawks, backed up by their large, loud homecoming crowd of young and older fans, came out swinging, wasting no time in racing out to a fast start, claiming the first game in rapid fashion.

The Hawks kept the pressure on after that and eventually swept to the win.

It was another balanced attack from the Hawks as Addy Deal led the home team with 11 kills, 11 digs and four blocks, Hannum spiked another 11 kills and hit eight digs, Addi Pardee added five kills, 13 digs and a service ace, Emma Claridge four kills and 12 digs, Annalise Fairbank six kills, eight digs and an ace, and Audrey Fairbank 24 set assists.

For the Trotters, Claire Lakko shook off her bee sting to record seven kills, 12 digs, 20 set assists and two service aces, Aubree Butcher hit seven kills, Kalli Tuma three blocks, four assists and an ace, Taylor Saner nine digs, Hadyn Rice three blocks and Carr an ace.

Coach Lakko thought the slow start hampered her Trotters. “Thompson Falls came out very strong on the attack and played well in all three sets,” she said. “Our block timing was off which impacted back row defense. The girls adjusted and improved with each set and they never stopped fighting.”

“Our crowd was awesome and the girls were really fired up,” Kazmierczak said. “They got off to a great start and played very well against Plains.”

In their other action last week, the Hawks went to Anaconda Saturday and fell to the Copperheads. The Hawks had their chances in all three of the sets, and Kazmierczak harbored no ill will about the effort of her players.

“No excuses but I do think homecoming week took its toll a little bit,” she said. “The girls seemed to be kind of tired in that match.”

Hannum was queen bee for the day for the Hawks in the match with Anaconda, clubbing eight kills, blocking a shot and hitting 10 digs, Deal added seven Ks, two blocks and 12 digs, Pardee four kills, 10 digs and three aces, Annalise Fairbank four kills and 10 digs, Claridge 18 digs and Audrey Fairbank 13 set assists.

This week, the Hawks host Arlee Tuesday and travel to Darby Saturday, while the Trotters are scheduled to host a pair of matches, facing Darby Monday and Arlee Friday.

    PLAINS SOPHOMORE Hadyn Rice goes up high on a kill attempt set up by teammate Claire Lakko as referee JR Iman keeps a close eye on the play in Thompson Falls Thursday. (John Hamilton/VP-MI)